Here's when you should start cooking every dish for Thanksgiving

The INSIDER Summary:

Between turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and many more side dishes, it can be overwhelming to determine an efficient cooking schedule.

INSIDER worked with Dan Holzman, chef and co-owner of The Meatball Shop, to come up with a Thanksgiving timeline that will help you figure out when to start cooking every dish.

Keep reading for our detailed timeline and prep schedule.

Thanksgiving is one of the most important holidays of the year in the US, at least when it comes to food.

Hosting Thanksgiving dinner can be stressful no matter how many guests you're expecting, given that there's a seemingly endless menu of classic side dishes, pies, and of course, a huge turkey.

INSIDER spoke with Dan Holzman, chef and co-owner of The Meatball Shop mini chain in New York City, about the best way to plan out your Thanksgiving menu, as well as when you should start cooking each dish.

"If you are the type of person that loves to get stuff out of the way, there are a bunch of dishes and prep work that you can do ahead of time," Holzman said. "But from an efficiency perspective, there's a lot of down time in between roasting a turkey or even making mashed potatoes."

Here's what you should be prepping beforehand:

One week before:

Make and refrigerate cranberry sauce.

Prepare turkey or vegetable stock (if you are using homemade).

The day before:

Bake all desserts, including pies.

For stuffing, prepare dried bread one to two days in advance.

With proper planning, however, it's possible to make a full dinner primarily the day of. It's also possible to avoid most of the hassle and stress typically associated with the food-centric holiday.

With that being said, keep reading for our timeline of when you should cook every dish for Thanksgiving dinner.

2. Pies

Pies may be the last dish that you'll eat on Thanksgiving, but they can be one of the first menu items that you prepare. Baking pies the night before Thanksgiving is an easy way to get ahead and avoid stress on Thanksgiving day.

"The oven space on Thanksgiving is the number one commodity," Holzman said.

Since pies require precious oven space and very specific temperatures, it's best to prepare desserts ahead of time.

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3. Turkey

When you should start cooking: Season the turkey the night before, and start cooking it Thanksgiving morning.

While it's best to actually cook your turkey on Thanksgiving day, Holzman recommends seasoning your turkey the night before. Since it's the main event, the turkey should be the first dish you start cooking in the morning.

"The resting process is an absolutely imperative part of the cooking process," Holzman said. Most people overcook their turkeys in the oven and overlook letting them rest, rendering the final product dry and rubbery.

By taking your turkey out of the oven before it is fully cooked, you'll allow the heat to redistribute, allowing heat from the outside to seep in, leaving you with a perfectly cooked, juicy turkey, Holzman explained.

To finish off the process, Holzman suggests carving the turkey, and then broiling it in the oven to complete cooking and crisp the skin.

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4. Gravy

Turkey gravy.
Darasp Kran/Shutterstock

When you should start cooking: The same time you start cooking your turkey.

Roasting bones and vegetables that you'll be using for gravy early on Thanksgiving day is a good way to get ahead of the game.

7. Green been casserole

When you should start cooking: In the afternoon, while other dishes are in the oven.

Various side dishes, such as green bean casserole, are best when served fresh. After salads have been prepped and other dishes are in the oven, you can get started on more of your family's favorite side dishes.

Green bean casserole takes about an hour to make, including prep and cook time, so it's best when made no more than a few hours before dinnertime.